PJ Hurst Design LLC | www.pjhurst.com
Was design something you’ve always felt strongly about or was it a gradual process of finding your voice?
Design has always been instinctual for me, though early on I didn’t listen to that voice. I built a corporate career at a Big 4 accounting firm in sales operations and analytics - an opposite world. My need to create never faded. While working full-time, I returned to school and earned my BFA in Interior Architectural Design. Years of dedication and sleepless nights led me to a career I love. Fifteen years in, it is my true calling.
You have an authentic and curated approach to design, share the process of creating homes unique to each homeowner.
A beautifully curated home is an expression of its owners. Every home should be filled with objects that hold meaning—thoughtful and intentional, not just to fill a void. Working with my clients unravels their story, revealing a love of travel, nature, music, art, and culture beyond the walls. When design captures those layers, a home reflects who they are and how they live.
You offer full-service design, what does this provide your clients?
Full-service design allows us to fully immerse ourselves into a holistic process that carries a project from concept to completion. We bring ideas to life through mood boards, concept designs, 3D visuals, detailed design development, and material palettes. Then guiding the vision into construction through on-site collaboration. We work side-by-side with our clients and the build team throughout the entire design and construction process, ensuring every idea has intention and every layer thoughtfully considered.
Why is it important for you to focus on timeless design and custom craftsmanship?
I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of a handmade tile, a custom coffee table, or fluted concrete formed by hand. The marks of the maker and quiet imperfections remind us a human hand shaped something meant to endure. In a world of mass production and fleeting trends, I value the honesty and timelessness of pieces made with soul and intention that become part of a home’s story.
Your clients appreciate your ability to tell their story and create something unique. How do you accomplish this?
Interior design is storytelling in three dimensions. An intentional exploration that connects materiality, light, and form. My process begins with conversation, truly listening to my clients and the stories that shape them. Sometimes those stories are subtle or - expressed through art, a hint of red, or a nod to travel and culture. It’s about finding moments that honor the balance of being grounded and feeling alive.
You have experience with residential design and large commercial projects. Has one area of design informed the other?
Earlier in my career in commercial interiors, I worked with architects and designers whose passion for artistic expression, composition, and light helped shape how I approach design. Each project—private FBO airports, restaurants, and hospitality spaces—told its own story. Our San Diego Landmark Aviation project earned a Calibre Award and Platinum LEED certification. That foundation still guides my work, rooted in sustainability, honest materials, and the dialogue between art and architecture.
How do you find balance between the homeowner’s aesthetic and the architectural essence of a home?
Every project begins with discovery, an architectural narrative shaped by the people whose story we bring to life. I’ve collaborated with incredible architects where letting the architecture lead naturally happens. When the structure isn’t strong, interiors can redefine it with authenticity. The client is always part of that dialogue, finding common ground and shaping something that honors the architecture while revealing new possibilities.
How has your training influenced your viewpoint on design?
My training in interior architecture taught me to see design as both art and structure—where instinct, function, and detail shape every space.
